The productivity of seven multiple rice-cropping systems, utilizing a short-duration cultivar under irrigation, were assessed over 5 years. Systems of one, two and three crops a year were compared. Multiple cropping reduced grain yield, panicles m-2, total dry matter and nitrogen uptake per crop. However, the unfertilized three-crop-per-year system averaged 9·1 t grain, 17·1 t DM and 126 kg N ha-1 per annum, without showing a long term decline in productivity. Recovery and utilization of nitrogen fertilizer were generally low compared to other experiments, and were highest for the early dry season cropping period.